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Utah Missionary Injured in Brussels Airport Attack Returns to US

April 17, 2016

(NEW YORK) — An American missionary injured in the March 22 bombing attack at the Brussels airport returned home to Utah on Saturday, his family said in a statement.

Richard Norby, 66, a Mormon missionary serving in Paris, had several injuries from the bomb blast, including second-degree burns and severe trauma from shrapnel in his lower leg. He was subsequently put in a medically-induced coma.

A statement posted on the family’s Facebook page said Norby returned to the U.S. with his wife Pamela by his side via an air ambulance plane, and he was admitted to the University of Utah Medical Center in Salt Lake City. Earlier in the week, he had his feeding tube removed and returned to “enjoying” solid foods, the statement read.

“He is more alert and has repeatedly thanked his Belgian medical staff for their care and concern,” the statement read.

Shortly after the bombing, his family said in a statement, “After a lengthy surgery he was placed in a medically induced coma, and will remain in this state for the next few days, with a lengthy recovery expected. His wife, Pamela Norby, was not at the airport at the time of the attack and is supporting him during this challenging time.”

Norby had gone to the Brussels airport to drop off other missionaries as they left to go to the U.S. that day.